Masai Russell agrees with Noah Lyles on how athletes can grow their brands off the track.
American hurdler Masai Russell has echoed Noah Lyles’ sentiments on the importance of performing and winning when it matters most as a crucial aspect of personal branding for track and field athletes.
During an interview with Olympics.com at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, Lyles shared his vision for revolutionizing the sport while setting an example for others.
“I want to show people how far they can really go,” Lyles stated. “I don’t want them to stop at medals. Yes, medals are nice, they get your attention.
“That should be the first stopping point, that should be the first check off the box. After you go to medals, now you go to moving outside of the sport. After you’re outside of the sport, we go and reinvent ourselves.”
Masai Russell has reinforced this perspective, emphasizing the role of standout performances in elevating an athlete’s brand and creating broader opportunities.
“I know that for now, I am just using my platform and being who I am meant to be at this moment in time,” Russell said on the Journey to Gold podcast. “I continue building my social media presence, continue building my Masai Russell brand so it can continue being bigger, greater, and better than track.”
Russell has strategically leveraged social media to expand her brand and income. With over 424K followers on Instagram, 707K on TikTok, and 52K YouTube subscribers, she has established herself as a prominent influencer. Her platforms showcase training routines, personal lifestyle, and other interests, attracting sponsorships from various brands.
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Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles have opened up about their rivarly, as well as the contrasting differences in their personalities.
However, Russell aims to take her brand even further by using her track performances to increase visibility.
She cited NBA star Angel Reese and sprinter Gabrielle Thomas as prime examples of athletes who have successfully translated their dominance in sport into greater recognition.
“I like to use Angel Reese as an example. Angel is a dear friend of mine, and she has taken her foundation, which is basketball, and converted it into something else. Gabby Thomas, the same,” Russell explained.
Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist from Paris, saw her Instagram following soar from just over 300,000 to more than a million after her Olympic triumphs. Similarly, Reese, who made her WNBA debut in 2024, continues to rise in prominence.
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Masai Russell was is an Olympic gold medallist at the 100m women’s hurdles
“They are transforming what put them out there in the world and turning it into something better,” Russell continued. “That’s something I see happening while trying to be the best hurdler in the world, which will always come first.”
Russell stressed the importance of being prepared to capitalize on major performances, ensuring that when the spotlight is on, an athlete is ready to seize the moment.
“When you do have those big performances in those big moments, you have to be ready,” she emphasized.
“What I have been focusing on this offseason when getting ready to compete is to have these big performances so people know who Masai Russell is. The marketing is there, the merch is here, the website is here. We could cook something yet. It is not there yet.”
While Russell remains uncertain about life after track, she is committed to maximizing her brand potential while competing at the highest level.
“I don’t know how life after track looks like,” she admitted. “I just pray I continue to do something great and look good while doing it. That helps me down the road.”
